Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me (2014)

Absolutely amazing

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Document of singer-guitarist Glen Campbell's farewell tour in the States, following a diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease. Director James Keach has crafted a moving testament to how music affects a fading mind; when all else fails, Campbell still remembers how to perform, so deeply embedded is the music in his brain. Why ask a man with Alzheimer's to perform a concert on-stage week after week? Loyal spouse Kim says he wanted to tour one last time, although we don't see Glen attest to this. Kim is able to get her husband up, showered, dressed, rehearsed and ready to go, but a point comes when no more dates can be scheduled, so weak is Campbell's memory (if he did declare he wanted to do a goodbye tour in support of his final album, he's already forgotten it by the time he and his family are on the second-leg of their venture). Keach weaves poignant home movies quite nimbly with doctors visits and backstage business, and nothing seems to be off-limits for the camera. The results might have been harrowing and depressing, but Keach somehow manages to make the journey one of hope, for Campbell's loved ones, his fans and for everyone touched by the disease. *** from ****

We went to a showing of this movie last night, thoroughly enjoyed it. I never really followed Glen Campbell's career but growing up in the 60's and 70's his hits received wide exposure and they were the kind of catchy songs that repeated themselves in your brain when you didn't expect it. This movie showed us that Glen Campbell really was the happy go lucky country boy who rode his singing abilities into the limelight but didn't become an obnoxious jerk. The treatment of his Alzheimer's condition is powerful, sad yet tinged with Glen's humor. Kim Campbell's explanation of the choice to tour is critical to the involved viewer and to those of us who have dealt with an Alzheimer's patient. Without, the ubercritical would accuse the family of dragging Mr. Campbell on the tour to wring dollars from his fading celebrity. So not the case. Glen Campbell's performing ability endured and the shows appeared to be sold out.Kim Campbell came to our town for the screening and took questions. She warmed to the crowd and explained how her family has worked against the awful progression of this horrid disease. How they still take joy in Glen every day. Unfortunately this film has received little attention from the general public. In our generation, it seems that everyone knows someone who is dealing with Alzheimer's. The movie going public doesn't want to pay good money to watch a movie about anyone who is suffering from a cruel disease. But this movie is so much more than that. The music, humor and love rise above the undeniable pain of Mr. Campbell's suffering. This is a very valuable movie for anyone who knows someone suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and for anyone who may encounter it in their family. Which means just about everybody. It will help to further erase the stigma of this disease, which doctors are still loathe to diagnose. Go see it for the educational value and be entertained by the music and the story of the love of the Campbell family, instead of watching yet another formula movie from Hollywood. You will be glad you did.

This documentary follows Glenn Campbell on his last tour, as he deals with the effects of Alzheimer's. It's an absolutely fascinating documentary. In spite of the depressing subject matter, Campbell is funny and charming and he and his family are so likable that it's far more entertaining than you might expect. This is not to say it doesn't get awfully sad - you do see the disease progress and that can be hard to take - but overall it's a pretty positive movie even though it's dealing with something so grim.There are a lot of interesting things in the film. I was fascinated by Campbell acting as though being unable to recall who the first president was his own decision - that he'd just tossed out extraneous information. It's amazing how well he was able to perform even as lost the ability to find his own bathroom. The family does a good job of dealing with Campbell; they're very nice (and strikingly attractive) and you feel really bad for them.Unfortunately, some misguided choices keep this from being as good as it could have been. A big problem is a section in the middle in which a bunch of politicians blather on about how important a problem is, one of a number of times where the movie's advocacy goal played out in ham-handed tediousness. Even though the movie kills its own momentum in the middle though, it manages to get it back again.There is also a monologue by the wife that is surprisingly defensive, since in the movie no one is criticizing her for taking Glenn on tour. I saw a premier with the filmmakers, the wife and daughter, and the wife said there were critics of the plan in the family, and I don't know why the movie didn't show that (or didn't get a less defensive monologue that wouldn't suggest there was more to the story than you'd seen).Some things feel a little extraneous. There are brief chats with celebrities about how cool Glenn is that often seem pointless (although some, like Bruce Springstein, did have something worthwhile to say). Glenn's security head also seems poorly integrated into the story. And there are clips of a young Campbell that in some cases work and in some don't. While it's clearly not the work of a truly masterful documentarian, it is still entertaining and powerful and well worth watching. I just wish an editor with better instincts could fix the weak parts. It's good, but with a few changes here and there it could be great.

A first hand look at the effects of Alzheimer's, not just on the individual but the family and friends. Usually when it hits someone, they always go into seclusion and no one wants to interact with them because they always want to remember them as they were. Thanks to Glen and his family for sharing this with us and informing the public on this dreaded disease, as he says in the song, "I'm not gonna miss you", Once the memory has been flawed there is still a person, one of God's creations, in that body, although they may not recall events or even their closest friends or family, they are still the people we love. Can't wait to view the entire movie. May God's Blessings be on Glen, his family and all others dealing with Alzheimer's.